chase



P 23, 1953 H. L. CHASE 2,853,211

' GREASE PUMP Filed Dec. 26,1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Hill/s L. Chase IN VEN TOR.

nited States Patent "'ce GREASE PUMP Hillis L. Chase, Merced, Calif.

Application December 26, 1956, Serial No. 630,538

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-255) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in pumps, and more specifically to an improved pump for pumping heavy liquids and semi liquids such as grease and the like. 7

This invention relates to an improved pump for pumping grease from its original container, it being the primary object of this invention to provide a grease pump which includes a mounting base in the form of a cover for a grease container, there being carried entirely by the cover a pump mechanism parts of which will extend down into a grease container for picking up grease and pumping the grease therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved grease container cover which is so constructed whereby it may be rigidly mounted on a grease container with a minimum of effort and which carries a pump assembly which is of such a nature whereby it may pump very heavy grease from a container, it being merely necessary to remove the original cover from the grease container and to replace it with the cover and pump assembly, the pump assembly then being ready for operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pump for grease and the like, the pump being of a multiple cylinder type and having a single combination pickup and discharge pipe at the extreme lower end thereof whereby grease may be continuously picked up and pumped out through a discharge line.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the grease pump asit would appear attached to a grease container, an end portion of a discharge line of the grease pump being broken away;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of Figure 1 and shows the relationship of the grease pump with respect to a grease container and the Specific details of the grease pump;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure l and shows the details of one of the eccentrics of the crank assembly for operating the grease pump; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure 3 and shows further the details of one of the eccentrics.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a conventional type of grease container which is referred to in general by the reference numeral The grease container includes a bottom wall 12 and an upstanding wall 14. Removably secured to the upstanding wall 14 at the upper end thereof is a cover 16. The cover 16 includes a depending annular Patented Sept. 23, 1958 flange 18 which fits about the upper end of the upstanding wall 14. The flange 18 is provided with circumferentially spaced clamping fasteners 20,

The cover 16 is a part of the grease pump, which is the subject of this invention, and functions as a base for the grease pump. The grease pump is referred to in general by the reference numeral 22 and includes a crank assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 24. Y

The crank assembly 24 includes a pair of upstanding bearing blocks 26 and 28 which are secured to the top wall of the cover 16 and extend upwardly therefrom in widely spaced relation. Extending between the bearing blocks 26 and 28 and journaled therein for rotation is a shaft 30. The shaft 30 extends through the bearing block 28 and is provided on the end thereof adjacent the bearing block 28 with a drive pulley 32 which may be connected by a V belt (not shown) to any suitable motor.

As is best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, carried by the shaft 30 is an eccentric 34. The eccentric 34 has mounted thereon a roller bearing 36 which is in turn disposed within a ring portion 38 of a connecting rod member 40. The connectingrod member 40 includes a pair of spaced depending cars 42 having aligned bores 44 therethrough.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that the shaft 30 is provided with two such eccentrics 34 the eccentrics 34 being disposed between the hearing blocks 26'and 28 and mounted on the shaft 30 closely adjacent their respective bearing blocks 26 and 28.

Carried by the cover 16 in alignment with the eccentrics .34 are elongated cylinders 46. Each of the cylinders 46 extends upwardly .through the cover 16 and has its upper end open. Mounted in each cylinder 46 for reciprocatory movement is a vertical piston 48. The upper end of each piston 48 includes a reduced portion 50 which is disposed between the cars 42. of an associated connecting link 40 and is pivotally connected thereto by means of a pivot pin 52. It is who noted that the eccentrics 34 are mounted on the shaft 30 so that the pistons 48 are disposed in out of phase relation. It will also be noted that the lower end portions of the pistons 48 are provided with'suitable rings 54 so as to have the necessary seal in the cylinders 46.

The pump assembly 22 also includes a lower horizontal pipe which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 56. The pipe 56 includes a T-shaped fitting 53 which is disposed at the lower end of each of the cylinders 46 so as to connect the cylinders 46 to the pipe 56. EX- tending in opposed relation from the fittings 53 are pipe sections 6%) which are connected together by a T-fitting 62. Extending upwardly from the T-fitting 62 is a dis charge pipe 64.

In order that the intake of grease or other liquid 66 from the container it may be controlled, there is carried by each of the fittings SBremote from the pipe section 60 thereof an iutakevalve assembly 68. The intake valve assembly is of the conventional ball check valve type and the intake valve assemblies are so arranged whereby they are disposed at opposite ends of the horizontal pipe 56 and closely adjacent their respective cylinders 46. In order that the pump assembly 22 will function, there is also mounted in the opposed ends of the pipe sections 60 discharge valve assemblies '70. The discharge valve assemblies 7 0 are also of the ball check type.

In the normal functioning of the pump assembly 22, as one of the pistons 48 moves upwardly in its respective cylinder 4-6, its respective intake valve assembly will open and its respective discharge valve assembly '70 will close. As a result, grease or other liquids 66 will be drawn up into its respective cylinder 46. Then as the piston 48 moves downwardly, the intake valve assembly 68 will close and the discharge valve assembly 70 will open so that the liquid disposed within the cylinder 46 will be pumped out through the pipe section 60 and up into the discharge pipe 64.

Disposed at the upper end of the discharge pipe 64 is a T-fitting 72. The T-fitting 72 has extending therefrom a horizontal connector 74 which in turn has connected thereto a V-shaped pipe 76. The intermediate portion of the V-shaped pipe 76 passes through the cover 16 and is secured thereto as at 73. Connected to the upper end of the V-shaped pipe 76 is a flexible discharge line 80 which may be connected to a grease gun (not shown) or like equipment.

Extending upwardly from the fitting 72 is a relief valve assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 82. The relief valve assembly 82 includes a cylindrical barrel 84 which extends through the cover 16 and which is suitably secured thereto as by welding 86, The barrel 84 is provided with a vent 88 for the purpose of delivering overflow liquid back into the container 10.

The relief valve 82 also includes a piston type valve member 90 which normally closes the vent 88. The valve member 90 is urged into a closed position by a spring 92 which is retained in place by means of an adjusting screw 94. The adjusting screw 94 being disposed above the cover 16, it may be readily adjusted to place the desired tension on the spring 92.

In the normal greasing operation, the operator of a grease gun is only pumping grease for a relatively short period of time. However, it is necessary that the pump assembly 22 be continuously operated or that there be provided a suitable control for the motor driving the pump assembly 22 so as to stop and start the motor when the grease operation is being maintained. In either event, excessive grease is pumped up through the discharge pipe 64 and when the pressure within the upper end of the discharge pipe 64 becomes excessive, the valve member 90 is moved upwardly to uncover the vent 88 with the result that the grease is pumped back into the container thereby relieving any excess pressures within the pipes and fittings of the pump assembly 22.

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it will be readily apparent that when it is desired to pump grease from a grease container, it is merely necessary to remove the original cover from the grease container and to clamp the cover 16 thereon. The pump assembly 22 is ready to operate at this time and to pump grease from the container on which the cover 16 has been mounted. Inasmuch as the pump assembly 22 is positive in operation, it is not necessary that there be provided lents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A pump for grease and the like comprising a container cover, said cover having an upper side and an under side, a crank assembly mounted on said cover on the upper side thereof, a pair of spaced cylinders carried by said cover in depending relation, said cylinders extending through said cover, a piston mounted in each of said cylinders for reciprocatory movement, said pistons extending above said cylinders and being connected to said crank assembly, a horizontal pipe extending between lower ends of said cylinders, end portions of said pipe being connected to and communicated with lower ends of said cylinders, intake valve assemblies in opposite ends of said pipe, a vertical discharge pipe, a fitting connecting said discharge pipe to an intermediate part of said horizontal pipe, discharge valve assemblies in opposite ends of said fitting, a discharge line connected to the upper part of said discharge pipe, said discharge line extending through said cover, a relief valve assembly disposed intermediate said discharge pipe and said discharge line, said relief valve assembly including a vent assembly for returning an overflow to a container from which grease and the like is being pumped.

2. A pump for grease and the like comprising a container cover, said cover having an upper side and an under side, a crank assembly mounted on said cover on the upper side thereof, a pair of spaced cylinders carried by said cover in depending relation, said cylinders extending through said cover, a piston mounted in each of said cylinders for reciprocatory movement, said pistons extending above said cylinders and being connected to said crank assembly, a horizontal pipe extending between lower ends of said cylinders, end portions of said pipe being connected to and communicated with lower ends of said cylinders, intake valve assemblies in opposite ends of said pipe, a vertical discharge pipe, a fitting connecting said discharge pipe to an intermediate part of said horizontal pipe, discharge valve assemblies in opposite ends of said fitting, a discharge line connected to the upper part of said discharge pipe, said discharge line extending through said cover, a relief valve assembly disposed intermediate said discharge pipe and said discharge line, said relief valve assembly including a vent assembly for returning an overflow to a container from which grease and the like is being pumped, said relief valve assembly including an adjusting screw, said adjusting screw being disposed above said cover and adjustable without removing said cover from a container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 731,623 Russell June 23, 1903 877,583 McLaughlin Jan. 28, 1908 1,075,406 Davidson Oct. 14, 1913 1,963,783 Fox June 19, 1934 2,049,851 Madan Aug. 4, 1936 2,734,667 Conklin Feb. 14, 1956 

